ANGOLAN PRESIDENT LEAVES THURSDAY FOR TWO-DAY STATE VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA

LUANDA, Angolan head of State JoAPound o Lourenco departs Thursday for a two-day State visit to South Africa at the invitation of President Jacob Zuma during which they are expected to witness the signing of a number of agreements for bilteral co0operation in various areas including investment and visa-free travel for ordinary citizens of the two countries.

Should everything proceed as planned, the visa waiver agreement could come into force within days on Dec 1 this year.

President Lourenco’s visit to Suth Africa is his first State visit since his inauguration as Head of State on Sept 26.

His discussions with the South African president are also expected to focus on strengthening of diplomatic relations between the two countries and in the region. They will also discuss the need to do away with migratory barriers, focus on free flows of peoples, without needing visas on their borders.

President Lourenco had previously visited South Africa to attend various events, including a session of the Pan-African Parliament in 2011, where he participated as the then Deputy Speaker of Angola’s National Assembly.

This time, he will be received with honours of Head of State by his South African counterpart.